Salinity is the big threat of drought as well as flooded areas for crop production. In this experiment, effects of urea fertilizer (50kg N ha-1) application on rate of vegetative growth and yield production of NaCl (0, 100 and 200mM) stressed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotype B90068 was assessed. High NaCl level decreased plant biomass, net CO2 assimilation (A) rate, K+ concentration and grain yields but Na+ and Cl-1 contents increased significantly especially in salt sensitive cultivar. With urea application, plant growth, photo-assimilation rates and plant yield was maximum in control plants as well as each increased than NaCl stressed plants (p≤0.05). It indicates that influence of urea fertilizer, which is playing a significant role in barley production even when grown in saline conditions. Among NaCl stressed plants, carotenoids were increased while chlorophyll contents were decrease significantly. A non-significant alteration in in Na+/K+ and K+/Cl-, which were decreased with NaCl application while reversed under the influence of urea fertilizer. Transpiration (E) rate and sub-stomatal CO2 concentrations observed upward under NaCl stress than control plants, while down towards normal form with application of urea but gs (stomatal conductance) noted as reversed than E and Ci. Application of NaCl in root medium is decreasing plant growth and its final yield while influence of urea fertilizer reduces (p≤0.05) the deleterious effects of NaCl stress.

Cheng W, Nakajima Y, Sudo S, Akiyama H, Tsuruta H. 2002. N2O and NO emissions from a field of chinese cabbage as influenced by band application of urea or controlled-release urea fertilizers. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems63, 231-238.

Ebrahimian E, Bybordi A. 2011b. Influence of different proportion of nitrate, ammonium and silicium on activity of antioxidant enzymes and some physiological traits in sunflower under conditions of salt stress. Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment 9(3-4), 1052-1058.